Support for spinning-spindles



(No Model.)

J. H. MOMULLAN. SUPPORT FOR SPINNING SPINDLES.

Patented Jan. 28, 1890.

ITNEESESZ INVENTUF I /7- I W/WCMM W f Washingim D. C-

' step-case 8 in any convenient manner, the

JAMES H. MCMULLAN, OF PORTLAND,

MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO THE, SAWVYER SPINDLE COMPANY, OF BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS.

SUPPORT FOR SPINNING-SPINDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,086, dated January28, 1890.

Application filed November 14, 1887.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES H. MOMULLAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Portland,in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supports forSpinning- Spindles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement relating more especially to such supportsfor spinning-spindles as are secured to a single spindle-supportingrail, and also to that class in which the rotating parts are sosupported that they may be deflected to a certain extent by the eifectof an unbalanced load; and it consists of the construction andcombination of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is an elevation, partly in central vertical section, of asingle-rail spinning-spindle with the supports therefor. Fig. 2 is anelevation of the spindle with a sleeve-whirl attached thereto. Fig. 3 isan elevation of that form of step-support which I prefer to use. Fig. tis a central sectional elevation of a spindlestep with a portion of thespindle that is supported therein, and Fig. 5 is a plan of said step. I

Similar reference-numbers refer to similar parts in all of the views.

In the drawings, 1 represents the bolsterbearing support, which ispreferably provided with the external collar 2, the nut 3,'and thewasher 4, said nut engaging with a screw thread upon the exterior ofsaid support. I prefer to form an oil-chamber 5 in the upper part of thecollar 2, as shown, and to form an oil-conduit 6 through the side of thesupport 1 and communicating with said chamber. WVhenever it may bedesired to do so, a washer 18 may be placed encircling the elevated part7 of the bolster-bearing support and covering the top of the oil-chamber5 in the usual manner.

At the base of the support 1 is secured the construction which I preferbeing shown in the drawings. This preferred form of stepcase is providedwith a sleeve 9, screw Serial No. 255,074. (No model.)

threaded in its interior, and which engages with a screw-thread upon thesurface of the support 1. The step-case of this form is usually providedwith flattened surfaces 10, which are adapted to receive a wrench. Belowthe bottom of the threaded part of the sleeve 9 is the'step-well 11, inwhich the step 12 is supported. Said step-well is preferably providedwith an extension 22, smaller in diameter than the main well, and whichis used to support and guide the lower end of the step 12, while theupper part of the well supports and guides the collar 19 upon the step12 and contains the open-coiled spring 14, which surrounds said lowerend of the step, although said extension may sometimes be dispensed withand the lower end of the step besupported by the spring 14. Thestepcase,when made in this manner, forms an oilcup of considerable size,which receives the oil set free when the step is removed for examinationor for the purpose of being cleansed, and thus prevents other parts ofthe spinning-frame and the floor from becoming V soiled by thediscolored oil at such times. 5

I prefer to make the step 12, as shown in the drawings, with the collar19 surrounding it and a little below the lower end of the bearing of thespindle in said step, although the construction thereof may in somecases be changed very materially, it being understood that the step isnot so made as to form a combined step and bolster bearing. The cavityin the step 12, which supports the spindle, is preferably made of theshape of the spindle and so large that the spindle fits loosely therein,and provided with oil-holes 13, leading from the space surrounding thestep to said cavity in the interior thereof. The diameter of the variousparts of the step 12, ingo eluding that of the collar 19, is such thatthe step may yield laterally in all directions to a slight extentwithout coming in contact with the sides of the step-well or centralhole in the bolster-bearing support 1. The weight 9 5 of the step, aswell as that of thespindle and its load supported by said step, ispreferably borne by the open-coiled metallic spring 14,

one end of which rests upon the bottom or a shoulder 'in the side of thestep-well l1, and too the other end of which bears against the collar 19upon the step 12. This spring 14 is, when made as illustrated,preferably made longer than the space which it occupies in the completedstructure, and is thus in a state of compression when in its place, inconsequence of which the collar 19 is pressed with considerable forceagainst the lower end of the bolster-bearing support 1. In order thatthe sediment which forms within this structure when it is in operationmay pass into the step-well 11 without difficulty, conduits 20, or theirequivalents, are formed to allow said sediment to pass by the collar 19.These conduits may be made in any convenient way, itonly being necessarythat the step-well 11 and the interior of the lower end of thebolster-bearing support 1 should freely communicate with each other.

Prior to my invention spindle-steps supported loosely, so that they maymove laterally, have been restrained from rotation with the spindle by apin or projection. The use of such pin or projection, while preventingthe rotation of the step, is objectionable, because the lateral movemcntof the step is obstructed in some directions; but herein the step 12 isadapted to yield laterally with equal freedom in all directions, forwhich reason the lower end of the bolster-bearing support 1 ispreferably made a plane surface, or nearly so, as is also the uppersurface of the collar 19 for the same reason.

The pressure of the step against the fixed support above it by thespring is sufficient to keep the step in place under usual loads afterthe step has once assumed substantially correct position, the stepbeing, however, free to be moved laterally in any and every directionwhen the strain inside the step overcomes the friction between the stepand the support, and with usual unbalanced loads the step rotates butlittle; but with any unusually unbalanced loads the rotation of the stepis faster, but in no case should the step of the step is worn moreevenly than when,

the step is not permitted to rotate, as when its rotation is restrainedby a pin or projection. The spring constitutes an elastic support forthe step.

The step-case 8 serves to hold the step 12 in such a position that theupper side of the collar 19 rests against a fixed surface in connectionwith the bolster-bearing support 1. Any other construction of the partswhereby a pressure is brought to bear against the lower end of thespring 14, and-whereby the step 12 is held firmlyby said spring upwardlyagainst a fixed support, may in some cases be equivale'ntly substitutedfor said step-case.

'I do not desire to limit myself in all cases to the use of the exactform of spring that/is illustrated for supporting the step 12, since Iam aware that other forms of spring may sometimes be equivalentlysubstituted therefor.

The lower part of the spindle 15 is preferably made of a small diameterand terminating in a sharp point, although any other suitableconstruction of these parts may be adopted at the will of the maker ofthe device to meet any unusual requirements. \Vhen the lower end of thespindle is made of a small diameter, as shown, the spindle increases indiameter as the bolster-bearingis approached from its lower end. Thebolster-bearing is preferably cylindrical. The spindle is preferablyprovided with a sleeve-whirl, the plane of whose band-groove crossessaid bearing in its bolster.

The fit of the spindle 15 in its bolster-bearing should be a ratherloose one, in order that the blade or upper unsupported end of thespindle may be able tovyield slightly to the force exerted thereon by anunbalanced load. The central hole in the bolster-bearing support 1 isshown as a cylindrical one for the greater part of its extent, andslightly larger thanthe diameter of the spindle, although I do not inall. cases desire to limit myself to this exact construction. I prefertoform near the upper part of the bolster-bearing an oilretaining groove17, to prevent oil in considerable quantities from passing over the topof the bolster 1 when the spindle is being used.

I have found that a spindle of the kind described runs very well indeedat the usual speeds at which such spindles are operated, and that it isperfectly practicable to remove the step-case for the purpose ofcleansing it and removing the sediment, which is inten tionally allowedto settle therein below the lower end of the spindle, even when thespindle is in operation and spinning yarn.

I prefer to make the fit of the lower end of the bolster-bearing support1 with the shoul- IIO der of the step-case, with which it is usuallyjoint as an equivalent for such perfect fit.

The much-desired and so-called gyrating capacity of spindles ispossessed by my invention to a considerable degree on account of thelooseness of the fit of the spindle in the step and bolster bearings andof the freedom of the step to move laterally to a slight extent in alldirections. When an elastic spring supports the step, as herein described, the spindle runs with very little jar indeed at the highestdesirable speeds. The form of the lower end of the spindle insures thatthe bolster-bearing is properly lubricated' when there is sufiicient oilin the interior of the bolster, the oil being carried upward by theaction upon it of centrifugal force.

Another great advantage of the spindle as V in some cases be desirableto make the cornbined bolster-bearing and bolster -bearing support intwo or more pieces; and I do not consider it to be a departure from myinvention, as hereinafter claimed, to interpose a washer or othersimilar bearing-surface between the top of the collarl9 and the bottomof the bolster-bearing support 1, or otherwise in connection with saidsupport, since the action of the various parts of the structure wouldnot be substantially changed thereby.

I do not broadly claim the combination, with a spindle and a bolstercase or tube having therein a rigid upper lateral bearing for thespindle, of an independent yielding lateral bearing for the lower end ofthe spindle, located in the said bolster case or tube, and a yielding orelastic support therefor within said tube; nor do I broadly claim thecombination, with a sleeve-whirl spindle and a bolster case or tubehaving therein a rigid upper lateral bearing for the spindle, of anindependent yielding lateral bearing for the lower end of the spindle,located in the said bolster case or tube, and a yielding or elasticsupport therefor Within said tube.

What I herein claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A spindle, a step-case, a bolster-bearing support, and a loose step,combined with an elastic support for the step to act upon the said stepand press or bear it toward or against the said bolster-bearing supportwith a force measured by the said elastic support, the said step thusheld being adapt-ed to not only move laterally uniformly in everydesired radlal direction, but also to rotate in the direction ofrotation of the spindle at a slower speed, substantially as described. vv

2. The spinning device which consists of a bolster-bearing support witha bolster-bearing formed integrally therewith, a detachable step-case atthe base of said support, a step, and a spring within said step-case,said spring supporting said step and forcing it upwardly against a fixedsurface in connection" with said bolster-bearing support, said stepbeing free to move laterally in all directions with respect to saidstep-case and bolsterbearing support, and a spindle provided with asleeve-whirl the plane of whose band-groove crosses saidbolster-bearing, substantially as described, and for the purposes setforth.

J AS. H. MOMULLAN. Witnesses:

BENJ. N. GOODALE, WILLIAM P. MoMULLAN.

